Energy management system

Abstract

An energy management system for reducing the power consumption of a plurality of loads and including a seven-day timer, a 24-hour timer and a fractional day timer such as a 30-minute timer, each controlling a plurality of subcircuits such that each subcircuit is operative to interrupt the flow of energy to it's associative load at selected times on weekends, in the evening and at synchronized periods throughout the day, the latter periods being synchronized with the other subcircuits, so as to reduce the peak energy demand and to improve the efficiency of the loads. The energy management system further includes circuitry for sequentially shutting down selected loads when the peak energy demand exceeds predetermined levels and circuitry for sequentially energizing the loads following a power failure.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An energy management system for reducing the power consumption of a plurality of normally energized loads comprising: means providing a source of interrupter actuating voltage;   first timing means having a 168-hour timing cycle;   second timing means having a 24-hour timing cycle;   third timing means having a fractional day timing cycle; and   a plurality of independently acting subcircuits each including interrupting means capable of interrupting the flow of energy to a particular one of said plurality of loads,   first switching means responsive to said first timing means and operative to apply said actuating voltage to apply said actuating voltage to said interrupting means so as to cause it to interrupt the flow of energy to its corresponding load during a selected period of said 168-hour timing cycle,   second switching means independent of said first switching means but connected in parallel circuit therewith and responsive to said second timing means and operative to apply said actuating voltage to said interrupting means so as to cause it to interrupt the flow of energy to said corresponding load during a selected period of said 24-hour cycle, and   third switching means independent of said first and second switching means but connected in parallel circuit therewith and responsive to said third timing means and operative to apply said actuating voltage to said interrupting means so as to cause it to interrupt the flow of energy to said corresponding load during a selected portion of the fractional day timing cycle.     
     
     
       2. An energy management system as recited in claim 1 wherein at least one of said plurality of subcircuits further includes means responsive to a predetermined condition and operative to override said first switching means, said second switching means, and said third switching means whereby the coupling of energy to said respective one of said plurality of loads is resumed. 
     
     
       3. An energy management system as recited in claim 1 wherein the timing of the energy interruption effectuated by the third switching means of at least one of said plurality of subcircuits is coordinated with the energy interruption effectuated by the third switching means of at least one other of said plurality of subcircuits so as to reduce the peak demand for energy of said plurality of loads. 
     
     
       4. An energy management system as recited in claim 1 further comprising means for monitoring the level of power which is consumed by said plurality of loads and wherein at least one of said plurality of subcircuits further includes means responsive to said power level monitoring means and operative to cause the corresponding interrupting means to interrupt the flow of energy to the load associated with said one of said subcircuits when the level of power consumption of said plurality of loads exceeds a predetermined level. 
     
     
       5. An energy management system as recited in claim 1 further comprising means for monitoring the availability of energy to drive said plurality of loads and wherein at least one of said plurality of subcircuits includes means responsive to said energy availability monitoring means and operative to cause the corresponding interrupting means to interrupt the flow of energy to the load associated with said one of said plurality of loads for a predetermined period following the time when energy is available following a power failure so as to prevent a power surge.